Washington Strait

Washington Strait (60°43′S 44°56′W﻿ / ﻿60.717°S 44.933°W﻿ / -60.717; -44.933Coordinates: 60°43′S 44°56′W﻿ / ﻿60.717°S 44.933°W﻿ / -60.717; -44.933) is a passage 3 miles (4.8 km) wide between Fredriksen and Powell Islands on the west and Laurie Island and several smaller islands on the east, in the South Orkney Islands. Discovered in December 1821 on the occasion of the joint cruise by Captain George Powell, a British sealer in the sloop Dove, and Captain Nathaniel Palmer, an American sealer in the sloop James Monroe. Supposedly, it was named for George Washington, first President of the United States.

This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Geological Survey document "Washington Strait" (content from the Geographic Names Information System).

Famous quotes containing the words strait and/or washington:

“We approached the Indian Island through the narrow strait called Cook. He said, I xpect we take in some water there, river so high,never see it so high at this season. Very rough water there, but short; swamp steamboat once. Dont paddle till I tell you, then you paddle right along. It was a very short rapid. When we were in the midst of it he shouted paddle, and we shot through without taking in a drop.”—Henry David Thoreau (18171862)

“While I do not think it was so intended I have always been of the opinion that this turned out to be much the best for me. I had no national experience. What I have ever been able to do has been the result of first learning how to do it. I am not gifted with intuition. I need not only hard work but experience to be ready to solve problems. The Presidents who have gone to Washington without first having held some national office have been at great disadvantage.”—Calvin Coolidge (18721933)